1909 Savannah Labor Day Regatta

Georgia Versus Florida

Savannah, Ga.—The Labor Day races of the Savannah Motor Boat Club—the Southern Championship and the Southern Handicap—were successful beyond the most sanguine expectations. The day was ideal as to weather, the attendance very large, it being estimated that at least five thousand people witnessed the events, and the participation of four of Jacksonville’s fast boats added particular interest to the races.

Southern Championship

One of the Florida craft, Dewey, owned by W. F. Coachman, proved the winner of the Championship race, covering the twenty miles in 1 hour 8 minutes and 8 seconds. E. W. Carson’s Carrie I, on which the Georgians were relying on to keep the cup in savannah, finished second, in 1 hour 9 minutes and 9 seconds; W. G. Spaulding’s Slipper, another Jacksonville boat, was third, and Carrie II, owned by J. A. G. Carson, Jr., of Savannah, fourth.

Southern Handicap

In the Southern Handicap, Dewey, the scratch boat, finished first, but was disqualified for exceeding her time allowance, and the race given to Slipper, time, 1 hour 5 minutes and 16 seconds. Dewey’s time was 1 hour 4 minutes. Second place was awarded to Carrie I, which finished only 28 seconds behind Slipper.

A banquet which was thoroughly enjoyed by all present, was given to the Jacksonville visitors by the Savannah Club on the evening of Labor Day. Commodore J. Lawton Heirs acted as toastmaster, and among the principal speakers were rabbi George Solomon, on "The Motor Boat Club of Savannah"; W. H. Toomer, of Jacksonville, whose subject was "The Power Boat Club of Jacksonville," and who said among other things that the Savannah Club would soon have an opportunity to win back at Jacksonville the prizes captured by the Floridians that day; Collector of the Port W. R. Leaken, who spoke on the relation of the revenue cutter service to motorboat racing; and Congressman Charles G. Edwards, who responded eloquently to the toast, "The United States." The Jacksonville guests returned to their city, loud in the praise for their Savannah hosts, and hope to arrange races in the near future, when they will have an opportunity to make some return for the hospitality and courtesy accorded them by the members of the Savannah Motor Boat Club. The friendly rivalry of the two clubs will be encouraged.

Transcribed from MotorBoat, Oct. 10, 1909, p. 27

[Thanks to Greg Calkins for help in preparing this page — LF]